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Steven Spielberg Praises ‘Jurassic Park’ Star Sam Neill as ‘Exceptionally Collaborative’ in Tribute to Late Actor: He ‘Will Never Be Forgotten’

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CitrixNews Staff
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Steven Spielberg Praises ‘Jurassic Park’ Star Sam Neill as ‘Exceptionally Collaborative’ in Tribute to Late Actor: He ‘Will Never Be Forgotten’
Jul 13, 2026 7:02am PT Steven Spielberg Praises ‘Jurassic Park’ Star Sam Neill as ‘Exceptionally Collaborative’ in Tribute to Late Actor: He ‘Will Never Be Forgotten’

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Ellise Shafer

See All From left to right, actors Sam Neill and Laura Dern pose with American director Steven Spielberg in a publicity still for the film 'Jurassic Park', 1993. (Photo by Murray Close/Getty Images) Getty Images

Steven Spielberg has paid tribute to his “Jurassic Park” star Sam Neill, who died on Monday at the age of 78.

In a statement to Variety, the director said he was “saddened” by the news of Neill’s death. “I owe a debt of gratitude to Roger Donaldson, Gilliam Armstrong, Graham Baker and Phillip Noyce for casting Sam Neill in the roles in which he was so brilliant that brought him to my attention and led to his playing Dr. Alan Grant in ‘Jurassic Park,'” he continued, referencing Neill’s earlier movies “Sleeping Dogs” (1977), “My Brilliant Career” (1979), “The Final Conflict” (1981) and “Dead Calm” (1989).

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Originally reported by Variety. Read the full story at the original source.